Jremote-control dispensing apparatus



Jan. 24. 1956 E. E. JACKSON ET AL REMOTE-CONTROL DISPENSING APPARATUS AND VALVE MECHANISM THEREFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 11, 1951 N EN TORS fkht'fl j cnsanrafld BY Orr-o 2561150352,

- E. E. JACKSON ET AL REMOTE-CONTROL DISPENSING APPARATUS AND VALVE MECHANISM THEREFOR Jan. 24, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 11, 1951 I NVENTOR5 nrroPA/s Y8.

United States Patent REMOTE-CONTROL DISPENSING APPARATUS AND VALVE NHZCHANISM THEREFOR Application July 11, 1951, Serial No. 236,134

Claims. (Cl. ZZZ-#73) This invention relates to apparatus for dispensing liquids, such as hydrocarbon fuels and especially gasoline, and is concerned with the so-called remote system for dispensing gasoline, in which the gasoline is dispensed from one or more stands remote from the pump which delivers it to such stand or stands. The invention is particularly directed to valve mechanism for use in such a system, and to the combination of such valve mechanism with other parts of the system. This application is a continuation-in-part of copending application Serial No. 186,815, filed September 26, 1950, which discloses a remote-control dispensing system.

Apparatus for dispensing gasoline in accordance with the so-called remote system normally includes an underground storage tank for the gasoline, a motor-driven pump which may be located in or adjacent the storage tank, and a. supply line leading from the pump to a plurality of dispensing stands. Each dispensing stand usually contains a meter and a register or computer, and each stand is provided with a dispensing hose terminating in a valved and manually operable nozzle by which delivery fiow from its stand is primarily controlled- Eachstand also includes a control switch for the pump motor, and such motor may be energized from any one or more of the several dispensing stands. control is actuated manually upon removal of the delivery'nozzle from its storage position. The pump used may be of any desired type, for example either a centrifugal pump or a displacement pump, and if it is a positive displacement pump it will normally be provided with a pressure responsive by-pass valve. In such dispensing apparatus it is usually desirable to maintain the entire delivery line, from the storage tank through to the dispensing nozzle, full of gasoline; and when the dispensing stand contains a meter, it is especially important to maintain the dispensing line in the dispensing stand full of gasoline andto prevent back flow therethrough, in order to avoid .errors in metering.

Of special importance here is the fact that each stand. must contain a valve which positively cuts off flow of gasoline to or in such stand except during operation of that stand. When the supply pump is actuated from any one stand of a multiple stand system, the pump delivery pressure is exerted at all stands of the system, and in each stand which is not in use, such pressure should be blocked, preferably at the entrance to the stand, to avoid its imposition on the meter and other mechanism of the stand and to avoid any possibility of leakage from the unused stand. Ordinarily, such a valve is connected for operation by the motor-switch actuating lever of the stand, so that the valve at each stand will be opened concur-v rently with closing of the pump-motor switch at the stand.

With the valves used heretofore, it has been ditficult, and often extremely difficult, to open the valve at a second stand ifthe pump is already in operation for some other stand. Under these conditions, the valve at the secondlstandis already under pump pressure which opposes its opening movement. I

Customarily, the switch 2,732,100 Patented Jan. 24, 1956 It is an object of our invention to provide improved apparatus for such a remote system of gasoline dispensing, and especially to provide a dispensing stand which is adapted for use with various suitable supply systems. It is a special object of our invention to provide improved dispensing stand apparatus which permits dispensing stands to be manufactured in a standard construction suitable for use in various remote dispensing systems without any necessity for variation in the dispensing stand depending on the character of supply system with which it is .to be connected. It is an object of our invention to overcome difiiculties arising from the fact that the pump is remote from the dispensing stand, and to overcome,

difficulties which arise from the fact that in a multiplestand installation the common pump will normally be of.

cept when that stand'is in dispensing operation. It is I and preferably closing with pressure in the direction of, flow. During dispensing operation, we control the posian object of our invention to provide a modulating valve in each dispensing stand, which will modulate the flow thereto and avoid extreme and abrupt pressure variations during operation, and which will facilitate operation of the nozzle valve, especially to avoid roughness and erratic operation during opening and closing of the nozzle valve and when the nozzle valve is but slightly open. It.

is an object of our invention to obtain both that modulation and that positive cut off with a single valve. It is tion to provide valve mechanism which avoids the diffi- "culties heretofore encountered in actuating a second stand when some other stand of a multiple-stand system is already in operation. It is an object of our invention to combine our valve mechanism in a valve assembly unit which may be installed as such in dispensing stands of various designs.

In accordance with our invention, we combine with remote dispensing apparatus of the type described above a modulating and shut-01f valve biased to closed position tion of such valve in response to a difierential in pressure between that in the down-stream flow line from such valve and that in a bypass having a restricted communication with the upstream portion of the flow line; and under such control the valve acts as a-modulating valve. During stand-by, we close the by-pass and render the valve control mechanism inoperative, as by closing a pilot valve in the downstream outlet of said bypass. The valve is then inoperative as a modulating valve and acts as a check valve closing in the direction of flow, to positively shut off flow from the pump to the dispensing stand. Change from modulating operation to shut-01f condition is controlled by the pilot valve, which requires but a small operating force and can easily be operated jointly with the pump-motor controlling switch of the dispensing stand.

In combination with this valve mechanism, we provide a check valve, opening in the direction of flow,

and positioned to prevent reverse flow in the meter orfrom the meter and hose to the modulating valve and 3 pilot valve. This not only maintains the meter and hose full of gasoline but prevents any back-pressure or reverse flow of gasoline from opening the modulating valve and from interfering with the desired operation of the modulating valve mechanism. I

To prevent excessive pressures in the meter and hose, such as might result from a temperature rise therein, we provide a spring-loaded pressure-responsive relief valve between the down-stream side of the check valve and the up-stream side of the modulating valve. The described valve arrangement will eliminate the necessity for, and will ordinarily be used without, any foot or line check-valve in the tank or in the line therefrom. Where, however, a foot or line check-valve is used, we provide for connecting the relief valve to a bleed line which leads to the tank or otherwise by-passes the foot or line checkvalve.

The accompanying drawings illustrate our invention. In such drawings, Fig. 1 shows a dispensing stand embodying our invention; Fig. 2 is a somewhat diagrammatic showing of remote dispensing apparatus; Fig. 3 is a vertical section of a valve assembly unit embodying our invention and taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section showing a modification of the valve assembly of Fig. 3, in which pressure relief is through a bleed line; Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the unit shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on the line 66 of Fig. 5; and Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical section showing details of the modulating valve construction.

The remote dispensing apparatus shown in Fig. 2 comprises a storage tank 10 connected by a suction pipe 11 to a pump 12 driven by a motor 13. Such pump 12 discharges through a supply line 14 leading to a plurality of dispensing stands, two such stands 15 and 16 being shown.

As shown in Fig. l, in each dispensing stand the supply line 14 is connected to a valve assembly unit 20, and this in turn is connected through a pipe 22 to a meter 24 which drives a computer and register 26. The metered outflow from the meter 24 leaves the meter at the bottom and passes through a pipe 28 to a visible flow gauge 30 at the top of the stand, and then to a pipe 32 connected to the dispensing hose 34. The hose 34 carries a dispensing nozzle 36 containing a valve 37 operable manually by means of the handle 38. The nozzle and nozzle valve may be of standard construction and the valve 37 will normally include a valve memher which closes in the direction of flow through the nozzle, so that pressure in the dispensing line to that valve 37 will tend to maintain that valve in closed position. The nozzle 36 is shown in storage position, supported on a storage hanger 48.

In addition to the gasoline-line apparatus described above, the dispensing stand includes an electrical junction box 40 containing a switch actuated by a lever 42 and electrically connected in known manner to control the remote pump-motor 13. The junction box 40 may be connected by a conduit 44 to lamps for lighting the dispensing stand.

The valve unit 20 carries a pilot-valve control cam 21, and such control cam and the switch lever 42 are jointly connected, as by rods 41 and 43, to a manually operable lever 46 associated with the nozzle hanger 48. This manually operable lever 46 is controlled in the usual way. When the nozzle 36 is removed from the hanger 48, such lever 46 may be raised manually, to put the dispensing stand in operation. Such movement moves the pilot valve control cam 21 to open the pilot valve and to put the valve mechanism in condition for operation, as will be described. It also moves the switch lever 42 to close the motor switch and energize the circuit to the pump motor 13. When the nozzle 36 is replaced on the hanger 48, it depresses the lever 46, which closes the pilot valve and opens the motor switch.

As is shown in Fig. 3, the valve assembly unit 20 4 comprises a main casing 50 and a top casing 52; The supply line 14 is connected to the bottom of the main casing 50 and leads to an inlet chamber 54. The outlet from this inlet chamber 54 is to the interior of a screen 56 removably mounted within the casing 50 through a threaded opening closed by a cap 57. From the screen, a passage 58 leads upward to a modulating valve chamber 60. The modulating valve mechanism comprises a valve disk 62 biased downward against its seat 64 by a spring 66, and connected to a piston 68 lying below a bypass chamber 70. The outlet side of the modulating valve 62-64 leads to a transfer passage 72, which in turn leads to a check valve comprising a valve disk 74 opening in the direction of flow and biased to closed position against its seat 76 by a spring 78. Above the check valve 74 there is an outlet chamber 80 connected to the pipe 22 leading to the meter 24 of the dispensing stand.

The bypass chamber 70 is in restricted communication with the passage 58 on the upstream side of the modulating valve 62, through an inlet opening 82. As is seen in Fig. 6, the bypass chamber 70 has an outlet 84 leading to a pilot valve chamber 86 which, when the pilot valve 88 is opened, is put into communication through a sleeve 90 with a side passage 92 which opens into the transfer passage 72. The pilot valve 88 comprises a valve disk spring-pressed downward against a seat formed on the upper end of the sleeve 90.

The restricted inlet opening 82 to the by-pass chamber 70 is of substantial size, as indicated in Fig. 3, but is restricted with respect to the outlet through the pilot valve and has less flow capacity than the open pilot valve.

The stem 94 of the pilot valve extends upward through a stuffing box and a packing nut 96 and its upper projecting end carries a pair of plates forming the cam control 21. These are pivoted to the stem 94, and the arrangement is such that upon upward actuation of the rod 41 the cam 21 is rotated and reacts against the upper face of the packing nut 96 to lift the stem 94 and to open the pilot valve 88.

The outlet chamber 80 and the inlet chamber 54 are provided with extensions lying on opposite sides of a common Wall 81, and such wall carries a spring-loaded pressure-relief valve 98 opening from the outlet chamber 80 toward the inlet chamber 54. Immediately below the valve 98, the casing 50 is fitted with a removable plug 99. In normal use, when there is no foot valve or other line check valve associated with the inlet end of the supply line, this plug 99 will remain in the casing 50, as shown in Fig. 3. When, however, the supply line is provided with a line check-valve or a foot valve, the arrangement of Fig. 4 is used. Here, the plug 99 is replaced by a fitting 102 containing a spring-loaded pressure-relief valve similar to the valve 98; and such fitting 102 is connected to a bleed line leading to the tank or to the suction line, to bypass the foot valve or line check valve contained therein.

The modulating valve and check valve shown are largely made up of formed sheet metal parts, and their construction is shown in detail in Fig. 7. The modulating valve is mounted in a sleeve or cage 110 of simple cylindrical form and provided with a plurality of lateral inlet openings. The seat 64 of the valve is formed at the upper edge of an annular sheet metal member 65 of hat-shaped section, which has a mounting flange at its lower edge underlying the lower end of the cage 110. An annular gasket 103 beneath the flange of the member 65 forms a seal with a shoulder in the casing 50.

The valve poppet comprises a pair of washers 102 clamped against opposite sides of the valve-disk 62 which carries a sealing washer of flexible material. This poppet assembly is carried by a stem 104 which extends downwardly through a guide plate 105 nested in the bottom of the valve seat member 65. The spring 66 lies between the guide plate 105 and a retainer 106 fixed on the bottom The check valve 74-76 and its associated parts are substantially duplicates of the corresponding parts of the modulating valve 62-64, in this case, however, a plain nut 108 is used instead of the yoke nut-108, and the piston 68 is omitted.

The cage 110 for the modulating valve is held in place by a retaining ring 109, which is fixed in place when the two casing parts are brought together and which in turn supports the sleeve 67 which forms the cylinder for the piston 68. The cage for the check-valve is held in place directly by the top casting 52.

The use of sheet metal parts and inserts for the valve structure, as shown, simplifies construction and provides for easy assembly of the valve mechanism and substantially reduces machining requirements on the casings 50 and 52.

The piston 68 comprises a hub 111 having a pair of.

sheet metal members secured at its upper end which form a backing for the flexible cup 112 of the piston. A second pair of sheet metal members support the cup 112 from below, and hold an annular coil spring 114 in expanding engagement with the skirt of the cup 112. The lower supporting member is secured against the lower end of the hub 111 by a stud 116 threaded into the hub 111. The stud 116 lies within the yoke 107, and both are bored transversely to receive a connecting pin 118. The outer ends of the bored hole in the stud 116 are counterbored to leave only a narrow central land for engagement with the connecting pin 118, which permits some universal movement between the valve and piston to permit them to align themselves with their associated parts.

Operation is as follows:

It is assumed that the system has been primed and that the delivery line is full of gasoline, from the tank through the suction pipe 11, the pump 12, the supply line 14 and the dispensing line in each of the several dispensing stands connected thereto. The nozzles 36 at each dispensing stand are in storage position on their brackets 48, as shown in Fig. l, and the control lever 46 is in depressed position and the motor switch lever 42 is in openswitch position and the pilot-valve cam 21 is in the position shown in Fig. 6, with the pilot valve closed.

To initiate a dispensing operation from one of the stands, the nozzle 36 of that stand is lifted from its storage bracket 48, and the control lever 46 is manually raised to operative position. The raising of this lever actuates the switch lever 42 to close the motor-controlling switch, which energizes the pump motor 13 and puts the pump into operation. Simultaneously, the raising of the lever 46 actuates the pilot valve cam 21 to lift the stem 94 and move the pilot valve to open position. In the operated stand, the opening of the pilot valve permits the pump pressure to be transmitted through the bypass inlet 82, through the bypass chamber 70 and through the pilot valve 88 and the side passage 92 to the transfer passage 72 between the modulating valve 62 and the check valve 74. Since the check valve 74 opens in the direction of flow, such pump pressure is also transmitted therethrough to the dispensing line of the stand, including the meter 24, the pipes 28 and 32, and the flexible hose 34.

The entire line through the operated stand is thus under pressure at least as great as the pump discharge pressure.

In each other stand of the system, the pump pressure is exerted on the closed pilot valve 88 and tends to maintain the pilot valve closed. It is likewise exerted in the bypass 70 against the upper end of the piston 68 and in the modulating valve chamber 60 against the upper face of the modulating valve 62, to positively maintain the modulating valve in close position. In each non-operated stand, therefore, the pump pressure is stopped at the modulating valve mechanism, and is not transmitted to the dispensing line; and that dispensing line remains at the previously existing pressure, predetermined by previous operations and by the pressure responsive relief valve 98. v

The nozzle 36 of the operated stand is inserted in the container or tank of the customer, and the handle 38 is actuated manually to open the nozzle valve 37, and delivery flow starts. The initial flow at the modulating valve mechanism will be from the by-pass chamber 70 and through the pilot valve, since the modulating valve will be closed, and this initial flow will be so limited that pressure reaction on the nozzle valve will be avoided and it will open smoothly. As the open nozzle valve 37 permits increased flow, the bypass chamber 70 will be drained through the pilotv valve and the side passage 92 at a rate dependent on the degree of opening of the nozzle valve,-

which will tend to reduce the pressure in that by-pass chamber 70. Meanwhile, gasoline under pump pressure will be entering the bypass chamber 70 at a rate dependent on the size of the restricted inlet 82, tending to raise the pressure therein. Since the drain-opening through the 8 pilot valve will be greater than the restricted inlet open-,

- open position when the nozzle valve 37 is widely open and a more nearly closed position when the nozzle valve 37 is more nearly closed. The resulting etfect of the modulating valve 68 will be to exert a modulation control on the flow of gasoline through the dispensing stand, and such modulation controlwill be responsive to the manual actuation of the nozzle valve 37 The modulating control is at the inlet to the dispensing stand, and protects the dispensing stand mechanism. It exerts little or no restriction on the delivery of gasoline through the dispensing stand and permits full flow when the nozzle valve 37 is fully opened. As the nozzle valve is partly closed, however, the modulatingvalve does impose a restriction which tends .to reduce the pressure exerted in the dispensing line. The eifect of the modulating:

valve is especially evident and important when the nozzle valve 37 is but slightly open, as during final slow delivery.. As the nozzle valve is progressively closed, the modulat hammering and erratic and uneven action of the nozzle valve 37 during such final slow delivery.

The modulating action will be affected by the presence of the biased check-valve, especially to suppress pressure increasing surges in the line, for the check valve will have a damping eifect, tending to convert any surge into an increased pressure in the transfer passage 72. Any pres} sure rise which occurs in that transfer passage, whether from this cause or from a partial closing of the nozzle valve 37 or from any other cause, will be exerted through the side passage 92 and the pilot valve 88 to increase the pressure in the bypass chamber 70, and will reduce the pressure differential on opposite sides of the modulatingvalve piston 68; and this will cause the modulating valve 62 to move toward closed position.

When the nozzle is finally closed at the termination of g the delivery operation, the check valve 74 immediately 7 closes to prevent back flow of gasoline in the dispensing line. Normally, modulating valve 62 will already have closed to shut oil flow of gasoline to the dispensing stand except through the bypass and the pilot valve.

The operator then replaces the nozzle 36 on its storage hanger 48, and this operation depresses the control lever 46 to open the motor switch and stop the pump motor, and simultaneously moves the pilot valve cam 21 to the position shown in Fig. 6. This closes the pilot valve 88, to shut off all flow to the dispensing stand and to convert the modulating valve mechanism to a check valve closing with pressure.

If during the dispensing operation at one stand as described above, another dispensing stand is put into operation, the actuation of its lever 46 closes its motor-control switch and opens its pilot valve 88. The closing of its motor-controlling switch simply establishes an alternative circuit for the pump-motor, and when the switch of the first stand is opened, the motor remains energized through this alternative circuit until the second stand switch is opened. While the opening of the pilot valve of the second stand moves that valve against the pressure in the supply line, the valve is relatively small and is operated through the leverage of the cam 21, and the operation is therefore an easy one requiring but little manual force on the lever 46.

We find that the combination of our valve mechanism with remote dispensing apparatus is highly eifective to eliminate difficulties otherwise encountered with such apparatus. Flow through the delivery line is controlled at two places, primarily at the manually operated nozzle valve 37 and secondarily at the modulating valve located in the entrance to the dispensing stand. Flow through the dispensing line of the stand and to nozzle valve is modulated by the modulating valve, and the nozzle valve works smoothly at any flow rate and hammer effects are avoided when the pilot valve is closed, pump pressure is positively cut off at the entrance to the stand, and the dispensing mechanism of the stand is protected from excess pressures and especially from repeated applications of pump pressure as other stands are operated. The starting of any stand, and especially the actuation of its control lever 46, is easily done with little manual effort, whether or not the pump is already in operation by actuation from some other stand.

We claim as our invention:

1. In liquid-fuel dispensing apparatus for dispensing liquid fuel from a storage supply through a pressure line leading to a remote dispensing point and through a control valve at said point by which control of flow through said apparatus is primarily controlled, valve-mechanism in said pressure line ahead of said control valve, comprising a modulating valve, a by-pass around said modulating valve and having restricted communication with said pressure line upstream of said modulating valve, and means controlling the position of said modulating valve in response to the pressure differential between said by-pass and said pressure line upstream of said modulating valve.

2. In liquid-fuel dispensing apparatus for dispensing liquid fuel from a storage supply through a pressure line leading .to a remote dispensing point and through a control valve at said point by which control of fiow through said apparatus is primarily controlled, valve-mechanism in said pressure line ahead of said control valve, comprising a modulating valve, a by-pass around said modulating valve and having restricted communication with said pressure line upstream of said modulating valve, means controlling the position of said modulating valve in response to the pressure difierential between said by-pass and said pressure line upstream of said modulating valve, and a pilot valve controlling the outlet of said lay-pass.

3. In liquid-fuel dispensing apparatus for dispensing liquid fuel from astorage supply through a pressure line leading to a remote dispensing point and through a control valve at said point by which control of flow through said apparatus is primarily controlled, valve-mechanism in said pressure line ahead of said control valve, comprising a modulating valve, 2. by-pass around said modulating valve and having restricted communication with said pressure line upstream of said modulating valve, means controlling the position of said modulating valve in response to the pressure differential between said bypass and said pressure line upstream of said modulating valve, and a check-valve in said pressure line downstream from said modulating vaive, the outlet from said by-pass opening to said line between said two valves.

4. In liquid-fuel dispensing apparatus for dispensing liquid fuel from a storage supply through a pressure line leading to a remote dispensing point and through a control valve at said point by which control of flow through said apparatus is primarily controlled, valvemechanism in said pressure line ahead of said control valve, comprising a modulating valve closing in the direction of flow and biased to closed position, a by-pass around said modulating valve and having restricted communication with said pressure line upstream of said modulating valve, and means to open said modulating valve in response to a pressure difierential between said by-pass and said pressure line upstream of said modulating valve.

5. A dispensing stand for connection to a pressure line which supplies liquid fuel under pressure, comprising a dispensing line including a meter and a dispensing hose terminating in a nozzle containing a manual primarycontrol valve, a modulating valve and a check-valve in series at the inlet end of said dispensing line, and means for controlling the position of said modulating valve in accordance with pressure drop from a point ahead of said modulating valve to a point between said modulating valve and said check valve, said check valve being arranged to close against flow pressure and being biased to closed position.

6. A dispensing stand for connection to a pressure line which supplies liquid fuel under pressure, comprising a dispensing line including a meter and a dispensing hose terminating in a nozzle containing a manual primary-control valve, a modulating valve and a check-valve in series at the inlet end of said dispensing line, means for controlling the opening of said modulating valve in accordance with pressure drop from a point ahead of said modulating valve to a point between it and said check-valve, and a pressure-relief valve opening from the dispensing line beyond said check valve for relieving excess pressure therein to the connected pressure line.

7. A dispensing stand for connection to a pressure line which supplies liquid fuel under pressure, comprising a dispensing line including a meter and a dispensing hose terminating in a nozzle containing a manual primarycontrol valve, a modulating valve at the inlet end of said dispensing line, said modulating'valve being a normallyclosed valve closing with pressure in the direction of flow, means for opening said modulating valve in accordance with pressure-drop across said modulating valve, and manually-operable means normally effective to render said valve-controlling means inoperative to open said valve.

8. A dispensing stand for connection to a pressure line which supplies liquid fuel under pressure, comprising a dispensing line including a meter and a dispensing hose terminating in a nozzle containing a manual primarycontrol valve, a modulating valve at the inlet end of said dispensing line, a by-pass around said modulating valve and having a restricted intake opening at the upstream side of said modulating valve, and means to control the position of said modulating valve in accordance with the pressurc drop across said by-pass.

9. A dispensing stand for connection to a pressure line which supplies liquid fuel under pressure, comprising a dispensing line including a meter and a d spensing hose terminating in a nozzle containing a manual primary.

control valve, a modulating valve at the inlet end of said dispensing line, said modulating valve being a normallyclosed valve closing with pressure in the direction of flow, a by-pass around said valve and having a restricted intake opening at the upstream side of said valve, means to open said valve in response to a pressure drop across said by-pass and to control the position thereof in accordance with variations in said pressure drop, a pilot valve normally closing the discharge end of said by-pass to prevent pressure-drop across sai by-pass, whereby to cause said modulating valve to act as a check-valve, and means to open said pilot valve.

10. Liquid fuel dispensing apparatus, comprising a dispensing stand having a dispensing line terminating in a primary-control valve, a remote supply pump connected to said stand, means for driving said pum a modulating and shut-oil valve in said dispensing stand and biased to closed position, a by-pass about said valve, means responsive to pressure drop across said by-pass for opening said valve to modulating position, a pilot valve for closing said by-pass to prevent pressure drop thereacross, a switch at said stand for controlling said driving means, and manually operable means at said stand jointly controlling said switch and pilot valve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

